

Preface xxi. 



deduced, and on account of the very interesting- 

 general information given, to declare that it is 

 worthy of the prize." 



Having thus explained in detail the causes 

 which brought the prize essay into being, and 

 through that, caused this book to be published, 

 I would like to add a few comments of my 

 own. 



Both Dr. Dekker and Dr. Loew suggested 

 that the notes on the fermentation of coffee 

 should not be included, much less, therefore, 

 the notes on the fermentation of tobacco, which 

 I have published at the end of the book. 

 Whilst thanking them for the suggestion, how- 

 ever, I have asked to be excused from follow- 

 ing it, on the plea that I am most anxious to 

 call into being (for with many, if not with most 

 planters, the desire, as yet, does not exist) the 

 desire to seriously consider this question of 

 standardizing the system of fermenting, curing, 

 and generally preparing cacao and other pro- 

 duce for market ; and having brought the 

 desire into being, to stimulate and spread it to 

 all planters irrespective of what they produce, 

 so long as the crop needs fermenting and 

 oxidizing to make it suitable for trade pur- 

 poses. It may be some little time before such 

 a book is again published, and therefore, as the 

 preparation of coffee, tea, tobacco, &c., is as 

 important as that of cacao, if not more so, as 

 the output and the capital required are larger, 

 I hope 1 may be excused when I try to kill 



